From Juliana & Rabbi Michel Schlesinger
With Gratitude and Anticipation
As the HERJC Gala approaches—just a few days after Purim—Juliana and I want to share how deeply grateful and humbled we feel to be among this year’s honorees.
When we arrived in East Rockaway a few years ago with our daughters, Tamar and Naomi, we had no idea how quickly HERJC would come to feel like home. From our very first Rosh Hashanah, we were met with warmth, openness, and genuine kindness. What we found here was not just a synagogue, but a true community—one built on relationships, shared values, and a deep sense of belonging.
Juliana and I don’t experience our roles here as something we simply “do.” We experience them as something we are lucky to be part of. Every lifecycle moment, every Shabbat service, every class, committee meeting, ECC graduation, and quiet pastoral conversation reminds us that Judaism isn’t only something we preserve—it’s something we live together. We are grateful for the trust you place in us, for your openness to learning and growth, and for the partnership that defines this congregation.
It makes this honor even more meaningful to share it with two truly special people.
Michael Goldwasser brings heart, thoughtfulness, and quiet leadership to everything he does at HERJC. Whether he’s reading Torah, chairing the Ritual Committee, serving on the Israel Committee, helping guide our post-pandemic reopening, or joining the search for our next hazzan, Michael leads with humility and deep commitment. His love of Judaism and Israel, his creativity, and his care for this community reflect the kind of leadership our synagogue is blessed to have.
Betsy Kass is part of the very fabric of HERJC. For decades, she has been a constant, caring presence in this congregation’s life. From the synagogue office to the ECC, from moments of great joy to times of real heartbreak, Betsy has supported generations of families with warmth, grace, and devotion. HERJC is not just where Betsy works—it’s where she belongs, and where she has helped so many others feel that they belong too.
To be honored alongside Michael and Betsy makes this moment especially moving for us. Each of us, in our own way, helps carry HERJC forward—through leadership, service, care, and presence.
Purim reminds us that blessings often come quietly, through ordinary people who show up for one another with courage, kindness, and responsibility. As we look ahead to this special evening together, that’s exactly what we feel—gratitude for this community and for the privilege of serving it.
Thank you for this honor. Thank you for your trust. And thank you for allowing Juliana and me to walk this journey with you.
With much love and appreciation,
Juliana & Rabbi Michel Schlesinger
From ECC Director, Cheryl Karp
I am truly honored to be a part of a celebration for two people whose presence has profoundly enriched our synagogue family—Rabbi Michal Schlesinger, and his incredible wife, Julianna.
My first encounter with Rabbi Schlesinger and Julianna came during the challenging days of the COVID pandemic. Though they were in Brazil and I was in New York, the distance seemed to disappear the moment we met online. Their warmth, sincerity, and ability to connect across the miles were unmistakable. I knew then that they would be the perfect fit for our congregation, and equally important, a welcoming presence for our youngest early childhood students.
Since arriving in New York, Rabbi Schlesinger has fulfilled that promise in every way. He has become a source of inspiration and comfort, loved by our congregation, cherished by our staff, adored by our children, and embraced by the families whose lives he touches. His profound empathy, his gift for truly listening, and his ability to make each person feel seen and valued are qualities that set him apart.
Rabbi Schlesinger’s leadership is not only about guiding us in faith, but about building bridges of connection, nurturing the spirit of community, and reminding us of the power of kindness. His warmth radiates in every interaction, whether he is leading us in prayer, greeting a child with joy, or offering support in times of need. Julianna has brought wisdom, love and kindness to everyone she encounters.
Tonight, we celebrate Rabbi Schlesinger and Julianna not only as spiritual leaders, but as dear friends. Their presence enriches our lives, and their example inspires us to live with greater compassion and purpose. We are blessed to walk this journey together with them, and it is with heartfelt gratitude that we honor them at this year’s Annual Dinner Dance.
Yasher Koach, Rabbi Schlesinger, and Kol Hakavod. May you go from strength to strength, continuing to inspire and uplift all who are fortunate to know you.
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There are people who come into our lives and quietly, steadily transform the way we work, lead, and even think. For me that person is Betsy Kass.
Betsy is not only the administrative assistant of the HERJC Early Childhood Center- she is the heartbeat of our school. She is my right hand, my steady compass, and the person who somehow completes my sentences before I've even fully formed the thought. She anticipates needs before they arise, solves problems before they become challenges and brings a sense of calm, competence and kindness to every corner of our community.
Over the years, Bestsy has become far more than a colleague. She is my confidant, my sounding board, and my truest partner in creating a school environment filled with warmth, joy and purpose. She reads my mind with uncanny accuracy, supports me with unwavering loyalty, and lifts our entire team with her honesty, courage and heart.
I cannot imagine our school without her. I wouldn't want to.
We celebrate Betsy not only for the honor she is receiving, but for the countless unseen moments of dedication, compassion, and brilliance that make her so deeply deserving of it. HERJC is better because of her. I am better because of her. And our children, families and staff are endlessly blessed by the light she brings into our halls every single day.
Mazel tov, Betsy on this well deserved honor. With admiration, gratitude, and all my heart- thank you.
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It is a true pleasure to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Michael Goldwasser on this well‑deserved honor. Michael, together with his wife Ami and their daughters Tali and Sivan—both of whom celebrated their bat mitzvahs here—has long been a cherished part of the Hewlett East Rockaway Jewish Centre family.
Although Michael’s work does not directly intersect with the ECC, his impact is felt throughout our entire community. His dedication enriches every corner of our Synagogue life. Whether he is lending his extraordinary musical talent—writing, producing, performing, and collaborating with Grammy‑recognized artists—or bringing his voice and spirit to our services, Michael elevates the experience for all of us. His commitment to reading Torah, his leadership as chair of the Ritual Committee, and his thoughtful presence on the Israel Committee, where I am honored to serve alongside him, reflect a deep devotion to our shared values and traditions.
Michael, thank you for everything you do for our Synagogue. Your passion, generosity, and creativity strengthen our community in ways that ripple far beyond any single program or committee. On behalf of the ECC, I wish you mazal tov on this meaningful recognition. May you continue to inspire us for many years to come.
From Sisterhood President, Beverly Wachtel
June 21, 2025 marked our Sisterhood’s 75th anniversary! Sisterhood has been providing an essential service to our HERJC community, serving as a welcoming arm to synagogue life, offering a warm environment to help women fulfill their potential, providing programming for social as well as for Jewish and intellectual growth, raising funds to benefit our congregation, and reaching out beyond our congregation to serve the community.
On behalf of Sisterhood, I would like to extend our congratulations to Rabbi Michel Schlesinger, Juliana Portenoy Schlesinger, Betsy Kass, and Michael Goldwasser as they are recognized at this year’s HERJC Gala.
Rabbi Schlesinger has been supportive of our Sisterhood since he started at HERJC just over 4 years ago. He frequently extols our active Sisterhood for our programs and fundraising for HERJC. In fact, the first time he was at live services for our annual Sisterhood Shabbat (after the years we held it on Zoom during COVID closures), he called all of the women to the bima at the end of services and gave us a blessing. This was the only time in my history with Sisterhood (that goes back to before I was Sisterhood President the first time in starting 1994), that our Rabbi has blessed our Sisterhood.
Juliana has attended Sisterhood activities over the years and has shared her knowledge with us. She and Rabbi spoke about Jewish life in Brazil, at our Torah Fund event their first year (in person) at HERJC. Last year, she made a presentation about Bella da Costa Greene, private librarian to J.P. Morgan, during our Sisterhood book club discussion when we reviewed the book The Personal Librarian. Then, as an Educator at the Morgan Library in New York City, she led a tour of the Bella da Costa Greene exhibit at The Morgan library for members of our Sisterhood. This year she led a tour, for Sisterhood and Adult Ed, of The Psalms in Medieval Art and Life. It is always interesting to hear her perspective.
Betsy has been incredibly helpful to Sisterhood and other synagogue volunteers for so many years! Betsy was already working in the HERJC office when I was Nursery School Parents Association President in 1990, and I still remember talking with her in the print shop while she printed our flyers. She knows the history of the shul and has been involved in so many facets of administrative work. Over the years she has been indispensable to Sisterhood volunteers, always friendly and accommodating while providing administrative support. When she moved from the main office to the ECC office, she continued to help with our Sisterhood Shaloch Manot fundraiser by updating the lists of staff and parents. We in Sisterhood so appreciate her, and enjoy working with her, that we honored Betsy as part of a group of office staff at our Torah Fund event many years ago, and we honored her again more recently in 2023 as our Torah Fund honoree. It is wonderful that she is being recognized again for her distinguished service to HERJC.
Michael has made his presence known at HERJC. From his beautiful rich deep voice chanting Torah on the bima to his bright colored suits, he is a stand out! He is also an impressive public speaker. He has started out strong in the role of Ritual Director. We’re lucky to have him as an emerging leader at HERJC!
Sisterhood and the entire congregation congratulate all of you! We appreciate your support of Sisterhood and recognize your involvement at HERJC that strengthens our HERJC community.
